Yet another picking problem!!!

[CW14]

Well I've solved my previous picking problem (not being able to pick fast enough) by discovering the Dunlop Jazz III, and throwing out that club-of-a-pick that I was using before.

Now I have hit another obstacle - fingers holding the pick keep hitting the strings, disrupting the motion of my hand and causing me to miss notes.

A good example is the Master of Puppets intro (all down-strokes), my first finger (fingernail) on my picking hand hits the A string when picking on the E string, and it hits the D string when picking on the A string.

Another example is...
When attempting to shred a lick such as this...

E--------------12-----------------12--------
B----12-14-15----15-14-12-14-15----15-14-- etc...

My thumb hits the B string when changing strings.


Am I holding my hand the wrong way or something? What angle should my hand be at when speed-picking?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!!

[jptk]

Hey! damn picking problems! ya know they should make a website which deals just with picking, a highly detailed one.

anyway, try holding the pick a bit more lightly, i used to hold it a bit hard and found that my thumb would hit off the strings.
Aswell, i used to use those jazz picks and found that my fingers and thumb would hit off the strings as its so small
its hard to give advice without seeing your picking, so im sorry if this is of no help
Also practice that pattern you described really slowly( 16th notes, 60bpm ) and make sure your hitting every note accuratly and with no tension, slowly increase the tempo

[crazyguy]

The 3mm can be tricky to get used to. My general advice is : try to keep your thumb paralel to the plane of the strings and limit its movement to minimum. Because of the pick's size, you can only use a small part for picking, and that takes practice.
I stopped using them exclusively because they sound too smooth when playing rhythm (not enough pick scratching the string). Also, I've found that they affect the sound of artificial harmonics, and I prefer what regular picks do.

[CW14]

Thanks, I'll try out those ideas and report back!

I was still having these problems with a regular pick so its not just the Jazz III. But the Jazz III probably did increase the problem.

I just like them cuz you can pick so fast so effortlessly!

[alucard0941]

This is not only to C14, but to all those who stuggle:

Its not nesessarily you doing somthing wrong in every case. Most of the time, experience and the years you have been playing influence this.

DONT WORRY!! please, its not a big deal cause I made the same thread about 6 months ago on a topic similar to this. I found out there was nothing I was doing wrong, but the reason I was struggling was that my finger muscles were not used to moving in a certain patteren and direction in order for me to do the technique.

Dont worry, just keep practicing, and once you get used to it, your "probolems will be solved"

Oh BTW, just cause you cant do a certain technique, doesnt mean you have a "probolem" with you playing. Your fingers and brain just have to get used to it, thats all. :)

[CW14]

im still sure theres something wrong with the way I'm holding the pick.

Just to make sure - what part of the thumb/1st finger should be making contact with the pick?

[crazyguy]

The 1st finger should be bent so that it makes two 90 degrees angles, and the thumb should press the pick against its side. They should be paralel with fingertips in opposing directions.

[CW14]

HOLY S*@#!!!! THANK YOU CRAZYGUY!!!!!!!!!

That solved my whole problem!!!!!!!!!

Now, FINALLY, I can shred!!!!!!!!

:)

[crazyguy]

I'm glad it works for you.
Have a blast.